A contractor has a van with many zip-up-the-back jersey's in every size. He also has screens of all the primary sponsor's logos. Before the podium ceremony every day, he makes up a winner's jersey with the appropriate logo.

I assume that the respective teams also have made up leader's jerseys and even complete kits with all of the appropriate sponsorship logos to be worn during the next day's stage.

Because he didn't have the best overall lowest time for all stages, just won for that particular day. The person with the lowest overall time gets the yellow jersey. The first 25 riders get points as they cross the finish line, and the one who comes across first gets the most points (sprinter, that is). At the end of the race, it's total points, not total time, that determines who wins the jersey.

Boonen got the green for best sprinter.
Zabriskie kept the maillot jeaune for best overall time until Lance won it with today's Team Time Trial.
Gotta say I miss seeing the "Blue Train". They looked really strong today.

Because he didn't have the best overall lowest time for all stages, just won for that particular day. The person with the lowest overall time gets the yellow jersey. The first 25 riders get points as they cross the finish line, and the one who comes across first gets the most points (sprinter, that is). At the end of the race, it's total points, not total time, that determines who wins the jersey.

Koffee

There are also intermediate sprint points along the routes (not sure just how many stages they're in... all or just some) that contribute to the sprinter's point total, so it's not just who crosses the finish first for the day. In fact, the green jersey may go to (or be kept by) a rider who doesn't finish in the top few riders. Though, admittedly, he won't keep it very long by not finishing in the top few riders each stage.

I have a question as well. Yesterday (Monday) when Boonen won the stage, at the podium, he recieved a green jersey. Why not the yellow jersey?

There are four jerseys awarded each day.

* Yellow Jersey for the General Time Classification.
* Green Jersey for the General Points Classification.
* White and Red Polka-Dotted Jersey for the Best Climber Classification.
* White Jersey for the Best Young Rider, for riders no more than 25 years old in the year of the race.

The green is often called the sprinters jersey because points are also accumulated on the intermediate sprints.

I was thinking that there was also a jersey for the day's winner but I didn't see a mention of it where I was reading.

So how do these points work exactly? Do the sprints have discrete starting and ending points within the stage? The can't just be merely measured from the start to the checkpoint.

Along the route, there are checkpoints for hill climbs (when there are hills) and intermediate sprints. Whoever passes that point first wins the points for that checkpoint. That's why the intermediate "sprint" points are called sprints - those in contention line up and at the last minute, they all sprint for that mark. First 3, I believe, get points for crossing that line first. In theory, there could be dozens of sprint points, but I think there's only 2 per race; one intermediate and the finish line. For those who know more (or have read more on the TdF site) correct me if I missed something.

Same deal holds for the hill climber (polka dot jersey); first one over the line (at the summit) gets the most points. Then 2nd, 3rd etc. I think - not sure here - there are 5 point winners in hill climbs.

Today Robbie McEwan won the stage but did not get to wear green. He is still 45 points behind Boonen(sic). He got to go to the podium, grab some flowers from some cute French gal and then bounce cheeks with her.

I think first place gets 25 sprinter points and second gets 20. Boonen(sic) came in second by half a wheel so Robbie only gained 5 points on him.

Along the route, there are checkpoints for hill climbs (when there are hills) and intermediate sprints. Whoever passes that point first wins the points for that checkpoint. That's why the intermediate "sprint" points are called sprints - those in contention line up and at the last minute, they all sprint for that mark. First 3, I believe, get points for crossing that line first. In theory, there could be dozens of sprint points, but I think there's only 2 per race; one intermediate and the finish line. For those who know more (or have read more on the TdF site) correct me if I missed something.

Same deal holds for the hill climber (polka dot jersey); first one over the line (at the summit) gets the most points. Then 2nd, 3rd etc. I think - not sure here - there are 5 point winners in hill climbs.

So then, does this mean that if there is a breakaway, the lead rider in the breakaway will receive the points for a given sprint/mtn checkpoint? And when you say 'those in contention,' do you mean every rider in the lead group, or are there specific, designated sprinters?

as for specific designated sprinters, no, there's no limit on who can compete for the points by tour rules. Now, teams have guys that are their sprinters and climbers and the rest of the team helps them out by leading (blocking the wind) and stuff. But if the newest guy on the ride wants to go for it from the back of the peleton, there's no rule that says he can't. There are, however, lots of etiquette rules in bicycle racing that apply and I can't begin to explain those - mostly because I don't know the politics of the peleton at all. Things like pee breaks, food issues, crashes and the peleton waiting for someone to rejoin, attacks when a leader takes a crash etc. Overall, it's a pretty "sportsmanlike" sport.

So then, does this mean that if there is a breakaway, the lead rider in the breakaway will receive the points for a given sprint/mtn checkpoint? And when you say 'those in contention,' do you mean every rider in the lead group, or are there specific, designated sprinters?

The teams designate what each rider will do. Some teams go to specifically put someone in one of the 4 jerseys by Paris. Discovery and before it , Postal were focused on the Yellow, the overall GC. Other teams go to win the Sprint jersey or the Mtn jersey. It's damn complcated and even after 20 years of following it, I still learn something new every year.